South Fork Fire continues to burn near Ruidoso. Here's what the fire looks like in NM

Aaron A. Bedoya, El Paso Times
Updated ·2 min read

The South Fork Fire and Salt Fire are active wildfires that were discovered on Monday, June 17, on the Mescalero Reservation west of the Village of Ruidoso.

The two fires now span across Mescalero, Otero, and Lincoln Counties.An estimated 8,000 people have been evacuated from the area. The Village of Ruidoso is under mandatory evacuation.

New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Reservation Tuesday, June 18.

"The horrific South Fork Fire and Salt Fire have ravaged our lands and property, and forced thousands to flee their homes,” Grisham said. “We are deploying every available resource to control these wildfires."

One death has been confirmed, according to the New Mexico governor's office.

Patrick Pearson, 60, was found dead on the side of the road near the Swiss Chalet Motel, located at 1451 N Mechem Road on June 18. He had sustained numerous burns from the fire, where he succumbed to his injuries, according to New Mexico State Police.

Patrick Pearson
Patrick Pearson

South Fork Fire: 16,335 acres; containment: 0%.

Salt Fire: 7,071 acres; containment: 0%.

Last updated: Wednesday, June 19.

Ruidoso camera

Live view from Ruidoso courtesy of ruidoso.net.

More: Rain expected as South Fork Fire and Salt Fire continue to grow near Ruidoso

Vehicles sit outside a destroyed residence in the aftermath of the South Fork fire in Alto, New Mexico, U.S., June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
Vehicles sit outside a destroyed residence in the aftermath of the South Fork fire in Alto, New Mexico, U.S., June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
A residence lies damaged in the aftermath of the South Fork fire in Alto, New Mexico, U.S., June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
A residence lies damaged in the aftermath of the South Fork fire in Alto, New Mexico, U.S., June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

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Smoke from the South Fork Fire covers the sun, casting an orange light across the Lincoln National Forest at Cedar Creek, in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal
Smoke from the South Fork Fire covers the sun, casting an orange light across the Lincoln National Forest at Cedar Creek, in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal
Smoke rises from a wildfire in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S., June 17, 2024, in this picture obtained from social media. Pamela L. Bonner/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
Smoke rises from a wildfire in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S., June 17, 2024, in this picture obtained from social media. Pamela L. Bonner/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
Smoke from the South Fork Fire covers the sun, casting an orange light across the Lincoln National Forest at Cedar Creek in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal
Smoke from the South Fork Fire covers the sun, casting an orange light across the Lincoln National Forest at Cedar Creek in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal
Smoke plumes from the South Fork Fire rise above the tree line as the fire progresses from the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation to the Lincoln National Forest causing mandatory evacuations in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Smoke plumes from the South Fork Fire rise above the tree line as the fire progresses from the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation to the Lincoln National Forest causing mandatory evacuations in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Smoke plumes from the South Fork Fire that caused mandatory evacuations in Ruidoso, New Mexico, are seen from the evacuation route in Roswell, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal
Smoke plumes from the South Fork Fire that caused mandatory evacuations in Ruidoso, New Mexico, are seen from the evacuation route in Roswell, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Farley's Ruidoso burn down?

A Facebook user posted on her account that the Farley's in Ruidoso did not burn down.

"We can’t always believe what we hear farleys is still standing I’ll leave my post public to ease some minds there are alot of people in Ruidoso still no service or power. God be with us all," she posted

New Mexico fire map

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Ruidoso fire: See photos, videos from South Fork Fire in New Mexico